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First real book you ever read

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I was inputting your edits and I noticed you spelled a few words wrong. Most of them were obvious mistakes, so I just changed them. Unless you were trying to misspell them on purpose to prove a point or something.

The Chicago Manual of Style is good, but honestly, I prefer to use my own instincts.

Have you read The Da Vinci Code? It is SO good.

Shirley McLean is signing copies of her new book in the conference room. Can I go?

No, thanks, I don't want to mail that.

His style is so unique—he's like Victor Hugo meets David Sedaris, except he's not nearly as good as either of those guys.

Do you know what our imprint needs? A book about porn. No, I'm serious.

I've written a few novels myself, you know.

These must be the halcyon years of your career, huh? [pause] Did I use "halcyon" correctly—I didn't, did I? Fuck...

I was inputting your edits and I noticed you spelled a few words wrong. Most of them were obvious mistakes, so I just changed them. Unless you were trying to misspell them on purpose to prove a point or something.

The Chicago Manual of Style is good, but honestly, I prefer to use my own instincts.

Have you read The Da Vinci Code? It is SO good.

Shirley McLean is signing copies of her new book in the conference room. Can I go?

No, thanks, I don't want to mail that.

His style is so unique—he's like Victor Hugo meets David Sedaris, except he's not nearly as good as either of those guys.

Do you know what our imprint needs? A book about porn. No, I'm serious.

I've written a few novels myself, you know.

These must be the halcyon years of your career, huh? [pause] Did I use "halcyon" correctly—I didn't, did I? Fuck...

Oh, my God, I'm sorry—I just assumed you were a lesbian.

'

Is this one of those moments where I should be feeling like a moron? :(

aw, no. safe to say i should, more like it. don't worry - as they say, it's not you, it's me

mcsweeney's can be a den of elitist prick snobbery encouragement, like i need any help... and on a bad day, i'm flexing.

truth is i'm sitting here eating peanuts and drinking a pbr, not working on my resume as tonight was designated, or the less productive but positive nonetheless options of getting off my arse and going to my choice of a party and two concerts... which makes me really flippin' cool. what does this have to do with first books? not much.

but, completely sincerely this time, we like what we like and that's why we're here.

Dude, I hate your avatar. It looks just like my old Probation Officer.

"Mr. Goutis, are you getting smart with me?"
"Huh?"
"Do you want me to throw you back in jail?"
"I'm just sitting here."
"Answer me."
"Answer what?"
"People like you weren't meant to be on the outside."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying I'm going to put you back in jail."
"But I'm not doing anything wrong."
"I'll catch you eventually."

Dude, I hate your avatar. It looks just like my old Probation Officer.

"Mr. Goutis, are you getting smart with me?"
"Huh?"
"Do you want me to throw you back in jail?"
"I'm just sitting here."
"Answer me."
"Answer what?"
"People like you weren't meant to be on the outside."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying I'm going to put you back in jail."
"But I'm not doing anything wrong."
"I'll catch you eventually."

to kill a mockingbird-harper lee...i read it in like 5th grade and didnt really get it, and thought it was crappy...i just recently re-read it and it makes much much more sense and i realize how great that book is.

That's one I read recently, and was blown away. I doubt I would have gotten it in 5th grade or even in high school. I was 15 or 16 the first time I heard someone actually use the word 'nigger' as a derogatory in conversation (except maybe in the context of a risque joke, along the lines of the Pollock jokes that seemed to be popular with grade school boys in 1977). It was more verboten than 'fuck' or 'cunt,' it wasn't just a word you couldn't say if there were grown ups around, or in mixed company or something, it was just understood that no one used that word. It un-existed. It's stunning to me to think that I grew up maybe 500 miles or so from Harper Lee, who is definitely much older than me (that book came out roughly a decade before I was issued), it's hard to believe that we were in the same country and century when I read a book like that.

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